Additional Info

Nearby Theaters

Opened in 1950, as the Family Drive-In, and located along Highway 54 East, it could accomodate over 450 cars. It was later renamed McCollum’s Outdoor Theater and still later, the Clinton Outdoor Theater.

It closed in the early-1990’s, and in 1996, its screen was removed and installed at the Harvest Moon Drive-In in nearby Gibson City as its second screen. In a way, the Clinton Outdoor Theater still lives on at the still-going-strong Harvest Moon Drive-In.

The concession booth and marquee still survive, used by an auction service now operating on the former drive-in site.

The Clinton Outdoor Theater was owned by Jense Nelson when I was growing up in Clinton. He also owned and operated the Clintonia Theater in town ( /theaters/11552/ ). It was built and owned originally by the builders and owners of the Clintonia, the McCullom family from Hoopston, IL, who also owned the Lorraine theater there ( /theaters/780/ , http://www.lorrainetheater.com/ ). Seen many movies there, including in 1970, Midnight Cowboy. Midnight Cowboy, being rated X back then would not have shown at the Clintonia, only at the drive-in, even though it won the Best Picture Oscar.

I saw a few films there during it’s “resurrection” in the early 90’s. From what I can remember the projection stuff was very old, possibly original. I believe that the owners in the 90’s were the same as the Harvest Moon and that they closed it down in, if I recall, 1994 because of a rash of vandalism and break-ins. AS stated, it’s screen lives on In Gibson City, IL at the Harvest Moon.

My husband & i took a trip over to see the wind turbines by Bloomington, IL & wow are they tall, towering over 2 storie homes in corn & bean fields but anyway, we also drove by the Harvest Moon drive in movie theatre & it was playing Surf’s Up & Delta Farce so it’s still going. I hope to get a chance to get over there to see a movie before the mosquitos get thick.